Decorative element

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a decorative element for use on a piece of clothing, which decorative element has a decorative surface and can be placed onto a button-shaped body, such as in particular a seam-end button of a cap. According to the invention, a receptacle is formed on a side facing away from decorative surface. According to the invention, a design shape is formed on the decorative surface.

The invention relates to a decorative element for use on a piece of clothing, such as in particular for placing on a seam-end button of a cap, as well as a decorative element/button assembly having such a decorative element. The decorative element has a decorative surface, which has for example a certain surface finish or colour and therefore creates a certain optical effect on the piece of clothing. For generating the desired surface finish or colour, the decorative element may be formed, at least on the decorative surface, for example from a certain material such as for example metal, in particular a precious metal, or by a coloured plastic such as in particular an elastomer. The decorative element is here implemented in such a way that it can be placed on a button-shaped body, such as in particular a dome-shaped button. To this end, a receptacle is provided on the side facing away from the decorative surface, in which the respective button-shaped body of the respective piece of clothing may be received in order to fasten the decorative element to the piece of clothing. As a result, the decorative element may also be retrospectively placed on the button of a jacket or a cap in order to provide the piece of clothing concerned with a special design element.

From U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,853 B1, a multi-piece seam-end button for a cap is known in which, in relation to the cap material, an inner part is put together with an outer part. Here, an additional cup-shaped element may be placed onto the outer part of the button, which is covered with a decorative fabric. The fabric is retained on the outside thereof by being clamped between the outer part of the button and the cup-shaped element.

Further, pieces of clothing are known from the prior art that are provided with decorative elements which are for example sewn on. Moreover, it is known to cover pieces of clothing with a certain material in order to achieve a special optical effect. Thus, for example, buttons are known which are covered with leather so that they can be matched to a jacket or waistcoat in a particular manner.

Further, from DE 20 2005 015 545 U1 and DE 296 12 910 U1 replaceable covers for the production of decorative buttons are known which have here spring-loaded clamping elements for fastening the covers to the respective button.

The disadvantage of the known decorative elements is however that they can be attached to or removed from the piece of clothing concerned only with relatively great effort.

It is the object of the invention to avoid, in a generic decorative element, the disadvantages mentioned and to allow a simple and in particular retrospective attachment to the respective piece of clothing, such as in particular a cap.

This object is achieved by means of a decorative element having the features of claim 1. In this respect, a design shaping is provided on the decorative surface. As a result of this design shaping, it is much easier to grasp the decorative element than in the case of the known decorative elements for buttons, the shape of which is respectively adapted to the respective button, and as a result it is easier to attach it to or remove it from the respective button. The attachment of the decorative element in this way is particularly simple and can also be reversed again, for example in order to provide the piece of clothing with a decorative element of a different design. Moreover, in cases in which the respective button is not used in conjunction with a buttonhole, such as in particular in the case of a cap, this design shaping allows to provide the decorative element with almost any design in respect of its shape, such as for example in the shape of a symbol, a mascot or any other figure.

In an advantageous embodiment, the design shaping forms here a cantilever element that extends away from the receptacle, which cantilever element forms a kind of lever that facilitates the placing of the respective button-shaped body on or the removing thereof from the receptacle. Preferably, the cantilever element or the design shaping may here be integrally formed with the remaining decorative element.

In this connection it is advantageous if the cantilever element forms two outer surfaces facing away from each other, which can be grasped from opposite sides of the cantilever element, as a result of which the design shaping and the decorative element can altogether be grasped and handled particularly well.

Moreover it is advantageous if the cantilever element extends here away from a convex surface of the remaining decorative element over a cantilever length of at least 5 mm, so that it can be grasped particularly securely.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the receptacle is formed by a cup-shaped and substantially dimensionally stable base body of the decorative element. The dimensional stability may here be ensured both by a largely rigid material of the base body, such as for example metal or wood, which permanently prevents any substantial deformation, or by an elastic material that can, as a result of its elastic recovery forces, at least to a large extent recover to the initial shape of the base body. As a result, the button-shaped body concerned can at least for the most part be received in the decorative element, which allows a particularly stable fastening. Moreover, as a result of the cup shape of the base body, a particularly large decorative surface for forming a desired design may be provided.

It is favourable here if the base body is formed from an elastic material. In this way, the decorative element may be attached to different button-shaped bodies which vary in respect of their size or shape within certain ranges. As a result, the decorative element may be used in a particularly variable manner.

As an alternative, the base body is made from a metal, as a result of which a special optical effect can be achieved on the piece of clothing concerned.

Moreover it is advantageous if the receptacle has a receptacle wall that forms a reception opening, on which the fastening means are provided. The fastening means allow here, after the introduction of the button-shaped body concerned, a stable fastening of the decorative element on the piece of clothing concerned in the receptacle via the reception opening. As a result it can be ensured that the decorative element will not get lost while the piece of clothing is worn.

Advantageously, the fastening means have a tapering section that is formed by the receptacle wall towards the reception opening. As a result, the decorative element may be fastened in a stable manner in particular on elastically deformable button-shaped bodies. To this end, the reception opening is matched to the size of the button-shaped body in such a way that the latter can be passed through the reception opening into the receptacle only in a deformed condition. Subsequently, the button-shaped body returns back into its initial shape as a result of the elastic recovery, which shape forms a form lock with the tapered section.

It is further advantageous if alternatively or additionally to the tapering region, the fastening means have an engagement collar that protrudes radially inwards continuously or in sections around the circumference of the reception opening away from the receptacle wall. By means of such an engagement collar, the decorative element may be matched in a particularly simple manner to a certain size of button-shaped body, so as to be able to form a stable form lock therewith.

As an alternative it is advantageous if the engagement collar is formed by an elastic spring element such as for example a spring wire. As a result, the decorative element may also produce a type of snap-on connection together with a dimensionally relatively stiff button-shaped body or with button-shaped bodies of different sizes, wherein the spring element is initially pushed aside during the introduction of the body into the reception opening and subsequently engages therewith in a form-locking manner.

In this case, it is in any case advantageous if the elastic spring element is held in a reception groove which is recessed next to the reception opening on an inside of the receptacle wall. In this way, the decorative element may be equipped with a spring element in a particularly simple manner, which moreover allows a particularly simple adaptation of the reception opening to button-shaped bodies of different sizes.

Further, the object mentioned is achieved by means of a decorative element/button assembly comprising a button and a decorative element in the above-mentioned embodiment, wherein the button has an outer diameter that is slightly larger than a free inner diameter on the reception opening of the decorative element. In this way, the button and the decorative element form a type of latching connection, wherein an elastic deformability of the decorative element and/or of the button may be used in order to connect both elements with each other or to separate them from each other.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the button is formed by a seam-end button of a cap. The term seam-end button is here to be understood to mean the button-shaped elements which in a plurality of caps, such as in particular baseball caps and other peaked caps are provided and are used either for receiving or covering seam ends or rivets or are attached to the top of the cap as design elements. As a result of the exposed position of these seam-end buttons, the latter are particularly suitable for the attachment of the decorative elements according to the invention, because the caps may in this way be provided with a particular design that may for example be characterised by a special colour, a special surface finish, a special material, a special shape or combinations thereof.

The figures show an exemplary embodiment of the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cap with a decorative element according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a section through the decorative element according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a section through an alternative embodiment of the decorative element with an elastic spring element,

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the spring element according to FIG. 4,

FIG. 5 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of the spring element,

FIG. 6 shows a lateral view of the decorative element with a design shaping in the form of a cantilever element,

FIG. 7A shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the cantilever element,

FIG. 7B shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the cantilever element, and

FIG. 7C shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the cantilever element.

FIG. 1 shows a piece of clothing 2 in the form of a cap, on which an elastically deformable button-shaped body 4 in the form of a seam-end button is provided. The seam-end button may here be used as a mere creative element of the cap or as a functional element, such as for example for covering a rivet connection or the ends of seams, by which the for example textile interfaces of the cap are held together.

On the button-shaped body 4, a decorative element 6 may here be fixed that forms a decorative surface 8 used for forming any desired design. The design may here comprise for example a special colouring, a certain surface finish, special indicia or inscriptions or certain shapes. For example, a design shaping in the form of a cantilever element 7 may be formed on the decorative surface 8, which cantilever element protrudes away from the remaining decorative element 6. The cantilever element 7, which is shown here as being cylindrical merely by way of example, may here have any desired design or any desired shape. In order to facilitate grasping and handling of the decorative element 6, such as in particular when attaching it to or releasing it from the button-shaped body 4 of the cap 2, the cantilever element 7 forms two outer surfaces 9A, 9B facing away from each other, which can be grasped together from opposite sides by the respective user.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, the decorative element 6 has, for fastening it to the bottom-shaped body 4, a cup-shaped base body 10 that forms a receptacle 12 on the side that faces away from the decorative surface 8. The button-shaped body 4 may here be introduced into the receptacle 12 via a reception opening 14. This reception opening 14 is here formed within a circumferentially extending receptacle wall 16 that forms a tapering section 18 towards the reception opening 14. In this way, the tapering section 18 forms fastening means, by means of which the button-shaped body 4, which is received in the receptacle 12 and is shown by a dotted line, can be engaged. In the course of this, an inner edge 20 of the receptacle wall 16, which in the embodiment according to FIG. 2 delimits the reception opening 14, acts as an engagement collar, through which the decorative element 6 can be fastened to the piece of clothing 2 in a form-locking manner.

As can further be seen from FIG. 2, the button-shaped body 4 has here, in the unloaded condition, an outer diameter Da that is slightly larger than a free inner diameter Di of the receiving opening 14. As a result, the button-shaped body 4 may be introduced into the receptacle 12 through the receiving opening 14 only in a compressed condition. As soon as the button-shaped body 4 is located within the receptacle 14, its shape returns, as a result of the elastic recovery forces, to its original shape with the outer diameter Da and forms, together with the tapering section 18, a form lock, by means of which the decorative element 6 can be securely fastened to the piece of clothing 2.

Alternatively or additionally to the elastic deformability of the button-shaped body 4 it is also possible to produce the decorative element 6, or the base body 10 itself, from an elastic material such as plastic and in particular silicone. As a result, during the introduction of the button-shaped body 4 into the receptacle 12, the reception opening 14 may be elastically widened alternatively or additionally to the deformation of the button-shaped body 4. In this way, the decorative element 6 can be securely connected with button-shaped bodies 4, which may differ relatively largely in terms of shape and size.

As an alternative to the embodiment mentioned above, the decorative element 6 or the base body 10 may also be formed from a substantially rigid material such as for example metal or wood. In order to be able to still achieve a certain elasticity on the reception opening 14, the latter may, at least partially, be delimited by an elastic spring element 22 that protrudes radially inwards from the receptacle wall 16, as shown in FIG. 3. For fastening this spring element 22 to the base body 10, the latter may for example be partially received in a reception groove 24, which is inserted in particular in a circumferential manner into an inside 26 of the receptacle wall 16.

As shown in FIG. 4, the spring element 22 may to this end be formed for example by a leaf spring 28 that extends at least partially in a circumferential manner. As an alternative, the spring element 22 may also be formed from a spring wire 30 that can be fastened in the reception groove 24, as shown in FIG. 5.

In any case it is possible here to connect the decorative element 6 with the piece of clothing 2 by means of elastic deformation and recovery by placing the decorative element on the button-shaped body 4. The fastening means may here be designed on the reception opening 14 in such a way that the decorative element 6 may be removed again at any time in order to replace it for example with a decorative element 6 of a different design. Alternatively, the fastening means may also be designed such that the decorative element 6 is permanently fastened to the piece of clothing 2.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 6, the cantilever element 7, which by way of example is cylindrical, extends away from a convex surface of the base body 10. Here, the cantilever element 7 may be formed integrally with the base body 10. Moreover, a cantilever length l, by which the cantilever element 7 extends away from the convex surface of the base body 10, is at least 5 mm and preferably 10 mm, in order to allow the user to simply grasp the decorative element 6 by the cantilever element 7.

FIGS. 7A to 7C show three exemplary designs of the cantilever element 7, each of which extends away from the receptacle 12 thus forming two outer surfaces 9A, 9B facing away from each other. These may be used to grasp the decorative element 6 in order to attach it to the button-shaped body 4 of the cap 2, remove it therefrom or replace it. 

1. A decorative element for use on a piece of clothing, having a decorative surface, wherein the decorative element can be placed on a button-shaped body such as in particular a seam-end button of a cap, and to this end forms a receptacle on the side facing away from the decorative surface, wherein a design shaping is provided on the decorative surface.
 2. The decorative element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the design shaping forms a cantilever element extending away from the receptacle.
 3. The decorative element as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cantilever element forms two outer surfaces facing away from each other, which can be grasped together from opposite sides of the cantilever element.
 4. The decorative element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cantilever element extends away from a convex surface of the remaining decorative element by a cantilever length of at least 5 mm.
 5. The decorative element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle is formed by a cup-shaped and dimensionally substantially stable base body of the decorative element.
 6. The decorative element as claimed in claim 5, wherein the base body is formed from an elastic material.
 7. The decorative element as claimed in claim 5, wherein the base body is formed from metal.
 8. The decorative element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle has a receptacle wall, within which a reception opening is formed, on which fastening means are provided.
 9. The decorative element as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fastening means have a tapering section that is formed by the receptacle wall towards the reception opening.
 10. The decorative element as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fastening means have an engagement collar that protrudes radially inwards around the circumference of the reception opening away from the receptacle wall.
 11. The decorative element as claimed in claim 10, wherein the engagement collar is integrally formed with the receptacle wall.
 12. The decorative element as claimed in claim 10, wherein the engagement collar is formed by an elastic spring element.
 13. The decorative element as claimed in claim 12, wherein the elastic spring element is held in a reception groove that is recessed next to the reception opening on an inner side of the receptacle wall.
 14. The decorative element/button assembly comprising a button and a decorative element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the button has an outer diameter that is slightly greater than a free inner diameter on the reception opening of the decorative element.
 15. The decorative element/button assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the button is formed by a seam-end button of a cap.
 16. A decorative element/button assembly comprising a decorative element for use on a piece of clothing, which has a decorative surface (8), on which a design shaping is provided, wherein the decorative element can be placed on a button-shaped body in the form of a seam-end button of a cap and to this end forms a receptacle on the side facing away from the decorative surface, wherein the receptacle is formed by a cup-shaped base body of the decorative element that is produced from an elastic material and has a receptacle wall, within which a reception opening is formed, on which the fastening means are provided, wherein the fastening means have an engagement collar that is integrally formed with the reception wall and protrudes radially inwards around the circumference and thus delimits the reception opening, wherein the button has an outer diameter that is slightly larger than a free inner diameter of the reception opening of the decorative element in order to form a form lock therewith.
 17. The decorative element as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cantilever element extends away from a convex surface of the remaining decorative element by a cantilever length of at least 5 mm.
 18. The decorative element as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cantilever element extends away from a convex surface of the remaining decorative element by a cantilever length of at least 5 mm.
 19. The decorative element as claimed in claim 2, wherein the receptacle is formed by a cup-shaped and dimensionally substantially stable base body of the decorative element.
 20. The decorative element as claimed in claim 3, wherein the receptacle is formed by a cup-shaped and dimensionally substantially stable base body of the decorative element. 